Summary
The formation and subsequent growth of roots by cuttings of poinsettia, hydrangea, rose and azalea in various propagation media, Jiffy-7, Jiffy-9 and Grodan under different conditions of aeration was investigated. The interrelationships of the effects of air content of the media, temperature and light intensity on the rooting of poinsettia cuttings was also studied.
With low air contents (0 cm moisture tension) in the propagation media the formation and growth of roots was strongly inhibited. The rooting performance of rose appeared to be less affected by the poor aeration. Increasing air content improved rooting but best results were obtained at moisture tensions of 4 to 8 cm. Rooting seems to be better correlated with oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) than with air content.
For poinsettia cuttings the optimum temperature for rooting was 24 to 28°C. At low temperatures rooting was delayed while at higher temperatures it was almost completely inhibited. Callus formation increased with temperature but decreased with increasing moisture tension. Conditions which induced large callus formation inhibited root formation.
High light intensity during rooting reduced overall rooting performance and the inhibition was most pronounced in conjunction with high moisture tensions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burrows W J and Carr D J 1969 Effects of flooding root system of sunflower plants on the cytokinin content of the xylem sap. Physiol. Plant. 22, 1105–1112.
Carpenter W J, Beck C R and Anderson G A 1973 High intensity supplementary lighting during rooting of herbaceous cuttings. Hort. Science 8, 338–340.
Carpenter W J, Hansen E N and Carlson W H 1973 Medium temperature effect on geranium and poinsettia root initiation and elongation. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 98, 64–66.
Currie J A 1960 Gaseous diffusion in phorous media. Part 1. A non-steady state method. Br. J. Appl. Phys. 11, 314–317.
Friis-Nielsen B and Mangle Pedersen A 1974 Dyrkingssubstraters indflydelse på planternes forsyning med vand og luft. Gartner Tidende 23, 348–349.
Gislerød H R 1978 Physical conditions of propagation media and their influence on the rooting of cuttings. Part 1. Air content and oxygen diffusion at different moisture tensions. Lisensiatavhandling, NLH. (Main part publ. in Plant and Soil, 69, 445–456 (1982).
Gislerød H R 1983 Physical conditions of propagation media and their influence on the rooting of cuttings. Part 2. The effect of the greenhouse environment on the temperature of propagation media. Plant and Soil 74, 19–29.
Guttormsen G 1966 Virkning av lys og temperatur på vekst ogutviklings hos hagepelargonium. Gartneryrket 56, 816–818, 827.
Guttormsen G 1974 Effects of root medium and watering on transpiration, growth and development of glasshouse crops. I. Effects of compression at varying water levels on physical state of root media and on transpiration and growth of tomatoes. Plant and Soil 40, 65–81.
Hansen J and Eriksen E N 1974 Root formation of pea cuttings in relation to irradiance of the stock plants. Physiol. Plant. 32, 170–173.
Heide, O M 1967 The auxin level of Begonia leaves in relation to their regeneration ability. Physiol. Plant. 20, 886–902.
Howard B H 1975 Improved rooting of cuttings by diffusion of oxygen through the rooting medium. J. Hort. Sci. 50, 173–174.
Kawase M 1972 Effect of flooding on ethylene concentration in horticultural plants. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 97, 584–588.
Klougart A and Bagge Olsen O 1969 Substratum for container grown plants. Acta Hort. 15, 21–26.
Moe R 1973 Propagation, growth and flowering of potted roses. Acta Hort. 31, 35–50.
Moe R 1977 Effect of light, temperature and CO2 on the growth of Campanula isophylla stock plants and on the subsequent growth and development of their cuttings. Scientia Hort. 6, 129–141.
Nilsen J H 1976 Effects of irradiation of the motherplants on rooting of Pelargonium cuttings. Acta Hort. 64, 65–69.
Osborne D J 1973 Internal factors regulating abscission.In Shedding of Plant Parts Ed. T T Kozlowski. pp 125–147. Academic Press, New York.
Paul J L and Lie C I 1976 Relation between growth of Chrysanthemums and aeration of various container media. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 101, 500–503.
Pierik R L M and Steegmans H H M 1975 Analysis of adventitious root formation in isolated stem explants of Rhododendron. Scientia Hort. 3, 1–20.
Puustjärvi U 1969 Water-air relationships of peat in peat culture. Peat and Plant News 2, 43–53.
Raadts E, Soding H and Nuernbergk E L 1963 Über den Einfluss des Lichtes auf den Wuchsstoff- und Hemmstoff-haushalt vonBryophyllum daigremontianum undHelianthus annuus. Planta 59, 635–672.
Reid D M, Crozier A and Harvey B M R 1969 The effects of flooding on the export of gibberellins from the root to the shoot. Planta, Berlin 89, 376–379.
Shoji D, Addicott F T and Swets W A 1951 Auxin in relation to leaf abscissions. Plant Physiol. 26, 189–191.
Tinga J H 1952 The effect of five levels of oxygen on the rooting of carnation cuttings in tap water culture. M.S. Thesis, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, N. Y. (Ref. from Hartman H T and Kester D P 1968 Plant Propagation).
Wample R L and Reid D M 1975 Effect of aeration on the flood induced formation of adventitious roots and other changes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Planta, Berlin 127, 263–270.
Zimmerman P W 1930 Oxygen requirements for root growth of cuttings in water. Amer. J. Bot. 35, 540–542.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Report No. 255.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gislerød, H.R. Physical conditions of propagation media and their influence on the rooting of cuttings. Plant Soil 75, 1–14 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178609
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02178609